The publisher and incoming editor of The Washington Post, Will Lewis and Robert Winnett, are facing allegations that they used fraudulently obtained phone and company records while working as journalists in London two decades ago. The use of deception and fraud in obtaining information for articles has been a long-running scandal in British newspapers.
A former colleague, a private investigator, and newspaper archives support the claims that Lewis and Winnett were involved in using illicitly obtained information for stories. These actions have raised ethical concerns and questions about their journalistic practices, especially as they prepare to lead The Post, an important news organization known for holding the powerful accountable.
Lewis has denied any wrongdoing, stating that his role was to unearth and address problematic behavior after the fact. However, a former reporter from The Sunday Times, Peter Koenig, has come forward to assert that Lewis personally assigned him to write an article in 2004 using hacked phone records. Another article in 2002 by Winnett also raised suspicions of using surreptitiously obtained materials.
The incidents at The Sunday Times highlight a culture of obtaining information through unethical means, such as hacking and deception, that was prevalent in British media in the early 2000s. These revelations have brought new scrutiny on Lewis and Winnett, prompting concerns about the ethical standards they will uphold as they take on leadership roles at The Washington Post. The journalistic community is watching closely to see if they can restore integrity and uphold the newspaper’s reputation for independent and rigorous journalism.
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